Looking around the table, Younghee seemed to have understood why her brother had let her come back early. Scanning the seats around her, it was clear everyone had been split according to their background. Surrounded by the future heirs of investment and financial groups, her eyes trailed over to Ari who was happily chatting away with her friends. At least everyone seemed to have understood tonight wasn't for business talk so thankfully no one noticed when she left her seat.
Meanwhile, Harin who was staring at the empty spaces across from her was downing her drinks out of anxiety. It was a good thing she had high tolerance, well maybe not to the her in the moment, if not, she would've definitely be throwing up by now. A few courses were served before the churning in her stomach settled down and she finally allowed herself to breath a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to set the knife down, a familiar laugh reached her ears. The same condescending tone as years ago.
Turns out, she had already looked at the name cards of the three that were absent and it was almost like the universe deliberately wanted to make today hell for her.
A girl's hand went to grab her shoulder as two chairs were pulled out.
"I can't believe you started without us Harin-ah. How selfish of you."
The girl pulled out the chair next to her and sat down with a smirk on her face. "Hey, why aren't you sitting with her?"
"Where even is she?" One glanced around. It wasn't that big of a venue and everyone had a clear view of each other so it was weird she couldn't find Younghee.
"Aw, did she finally get tired of you? What a shame. But then again, can't really say I'm surprised."
Harin gripped the glass in her hand, chugging the rest of her drink before sighing. "Do you really have nothing better to do? It's been years yet you somehow still remember my business. Don't you think that's a little sad?"
The girl beside her's eyes sharpened. She took her phone out, swiping through her galleries before pointing it at Harin's face. "It's hard to forget when I still have this picture."
It was a bad shot of them but
If Ari sees, she...
Maybe it was the alcohol catching up to her but Harin was too slow to grab the phone, barely avoiding falling as the girl raised her hand.
Wait, everyone is going to see—
A hand grabbed the phone before it attracted anyone else's attention. Standing over them, Jumin gave the girl a stern look as he clicked her phone shut. "Please refrain from causing too much commotion. You wouldn't want my sister to see, right?"
The three exchanged nervous glances between themselves before one spoke up, flashing a charming and innocent smile. "We were just kidding around. Right, Harin?"
Harin looked at him for a brief moment before getting up. She knew for sure she wanted to avoid one of the twins today but attracting this one's attention would inevitably lead to the other.
The door to the balcony opened behind her almost instantly. She looked back, her face full of dissatisfaction as he had followed her out.
"What do you want?" Harin sighed.
"Here," he pointed the phone at her. "You should be the one to delete it."
"..." She looked away. "What's the use, they probably have copies of it somewhere else. As long as no one else sees, I don't really care."
"And by no one else, don't you just mean Bae Ari?"
"Looks like being sharp runs in the family, huh?"
He set the phone down on the ledge in-front of her. "Aren't you worrying too much? She knows what Younghee's like."
"That's not the point.."
"So it is because it's you."
Looking down at the now dim screen, the photo of an obstructed view of the first time they had kissed sat still. The logical part of her knew it made no sense why she was so scared of the picture. After all, Ari already knew of the nature of her and Younghee's relationship. The problem was that that was just suspicion. The picture was evidence.
"Why did she have to take that stupid photo..." Harin mumbled.
"Wouldn't you do the same if you were in her shoes?"
She threw Jumin a questioning glance, "what?"
"You know how she felt about you so why are you so surprised?"
Harin scoffed, "I think you're confused but I guess it'd be weirder not to defend your own sister."
"..." Jumin grabbed the phone, tapping the delete button before opening a messaging app. "Here."
What filled the screen were texts confirming money being transferred into an account every month, each increasing in amount, dating back for at least 3 years.
"What.."
"She's been paying them to keep their mouths shut. Minju she... didn't mean for them to see it."
"..That doesn't matter. They never would've if she didn't took that in the first place."
Jumin groaned. "Hey, I helped you for her sake, can't you at least try to understand?"
"It's none of your business. For her sake, you say? I bet she's never told you to do anything about this."
"No, she hasn't, but do you know how much she spiralled after what happened to you? She kept blaming herself and—"
"Oh and that was worse that me having to live in constant anxiety? I get your concern but this has nothing to do with you. You don't understand how carefully I had to tiptoe around this for years just so it didn't ruin..." Harin paused, "forget it."
Lee Jumin's eyes flickered for a second before he nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry."
-
It didn't take long for Ari to leave her table and when she did, a hand quickly pulled her into a secluded corner, out of sight of everyone else. In that dark space where she could hardly see anything other than the arms wrapped around her, Ari didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
"Why are you hiding here?" She asked, patting Younghee's arm.
"It's boring and I wanted to leave before they all started to talk about business."
Ari smiled, holding back a laugh as the other's hair tickled her exposed neck. Despite their warmth seeping into each other as the hug tightened, she couldn't get rid of the thought in her head telling herself to not fall for it.
It was like this every time Younghee left - whether it was for a few days, weeks, or sometimes, even months. Every time she came back, she would act clingy for a bit before returning to normal. Of course, with the exception of the night they first saw each other again. But perhaps that was because Younghee hadn't expected it.
The first time it had happened was during middle school when her Father had taken her overseas for some event. She was only gone for a few days so Ari was surprised by the sudden change when she had returned. What started off as just small but repetitive apologies quickly turned into grabbing Ari's hand out of nowhere and clinging onto her every chance she got.
Ari didn't mind it either. As much Younghee needed that to recharge, it seemed as if she did too. It was also during this time that she could get as much as she wanted out of her.
"Where did you go?"
"The US..."
"Huh? What for?"
"My brother forced me to go.. I'm sorry."
"What?" Ari turned around, breaking the hug abruptly as she carefully examined Younghee. Starting with her face, then to her arms before Younghee stopped her, pulling her back into the embrace.
"It was just for a board's meeting, don't worry, I didn't do anything dangerous." She took a deep breath in. "Let's stay like this for a while, please."
"..." Though not totally convinced, Ari still gave a small nod. The way they were stood meant she was at the perfect height to be able to play with her hair as she liked.
As Younghee buried her face deeper into Ari's neck, she suddenly chuckled upon feeling a hand running through her hair.
God, I missed this.
Unfortunately for them, time hadn't stopped just because they were in their own world. The gentle vibration from Ari's phone interrupted the tranquility and she gave Younghee a light tap to let go so she could read the text.
"They're asking where I am. I have to get back."
The frown on Younghee's face couldn't be anymore obvious but she did loosen her arms around Ari, however unwillingly.
"Don't worry, it's almost over. You should get back to your table too."
"I don't want to... they're all so pretentious."
"Well you have Cho Jaeyoung to talk to, right?"
"No, he's too busy fawning over the class rep."
Ari chuckled, seeing the pout on her face, "it's only for a bit, then we can go home."
-
"Yun.. are you really asleep? We're going home now." Stepping out into the cool night breeze, Cho Jaeyoung was talking so quietly, even if the guy on his back was awake, he would be struggling to hear him. Resting the guy's head on his shoulder, he gestured for the driver to wait for a moment as he rolled the window down. "Hey."
Younghee who was pulling her coat over Ari looked up.
"Good luck." Jaeyoung said.
"You too."
-
The door to the apartment opened and for a moment, Ari was surprised to see everything was exactly the way it was as before she had left, even her slippers were still set out by the entrance.
After taking a shower, Ari sat down on the couch and checked her phone, responding to messages of her friends asking to hang out again, knowing it was talk.
The bathroom door clicked open a while later. Younghee switched the lights off before trailing over to her, not even bothering to dry her hair properly. She was about to plop down next to Ari then quickly stopped herself, realising there was still water dripping.
Ari patted the spot next to her, "it's fine, sit down. I'll dry it for you."
The whirrs of the hairdryer quickly filled the living-room. Every now and then, Younghee would feel a slight tickle as a fingertip brushed across her scalp, the suddenness of each keeping her from falling asleep.
The cold weather meant it took a bit longer than usual to dry so by the time Ari had finished, Younghee was dozing off.
"All done. Younghee?"
"..Hmm..?"
"You should go to sleep if you're tired."
Although she was, Younghee didn't move, instead, she extended her arms out, waiting for Ari to put the dryer back. The latter smiled weakly as she closed the cabinet door. This was a rare occasion so she should use it to her advantage.
Ari's raised a hand to ruffle Younghee's hair as she felt her arms wrap around her once again. Maybe it was because of the way Younghee was acting that her mood seemed to have improved a bit. Still, there were questions she wanted to ask.
"Youngyoung."
"Yes?" Younghee mumbled.
"How does Harin know about your sister?" Was what she wanted to ask but there was something else that had been bugging her for longer.
"About Nari... you never finished telling me how you two met."
Younghee looked up and tilted her head, the look on her face as if saying 'why are you asking about that when it's just us'. Still, seeing the harmless smile on Ari made her sigh in defeat. "What else was there to say.. we met because of the project and she fell out with her friends."
Ari lifted her chin, "you didn't tell me the last bit."
Younghee blinked, "ah... I guess I didn't. It wasn't a big deal. One of them had a boyfriend who for some reason told all his friends Nari was the one he was dating. Her friend didn't care that much until Kim Minjee turned it into a big deal."
"Why would he tell them he was dating her?"
"She happened to bump into them in the dorms one time and I guess he thought he could lie since they've never met his girlfriend I guess."
"Do you think something was going on between them?"
"Him and Nari? No way. She only bumped into him because she came to see me."
"Huh? You lived in the dorms?"
"For the first few weeks." Taking Ari's silence as an opportunity, she nuzzled against her neck, peering at her from an angle. A small smile appeared on her face as the slightly flustered Ari turned away. "That's all there is... Why are you asking about this so suddenly?"
"Ah.." Thinking back to the graduation photo, Ari's expression changed to one a lot harder to read. "No reason, just curious."
Maybe that wasn't her..